Banana Ball remembers first responders lost on Sept. 11 in Syracuse series

NBT Bank Stadium’s dugouts on Friday displayed the images of 343 men and women.

These weren’t ordinary people. They were heroes who lost their lives as firefighters and other first responders on Sept. 11, 2001.

The tribute came from The Firefighters, one of Banana Ball’s six teams, who honored those who died 25 years ago during the terrorist attack on the United States.

“It’s pretty incredible,” Firefighters outfielder Noah Bridges said during an interview on the team’s broadcast. “We get to play for something bigger than ourselves.”

The team traveled to Syracuse for Friday’s game, knowing it meant more than any of the other 64 games in the 2026 season.

“We get to honor those who have fallen and those who paid the ultimate price for us to be here,” said Shane Chojnacki, a member of the Calendar Crew, a group of wrestlers who cheer for The Firefighters. “I can’t thank everyone who did that enough.”

Each Firefighters player wore the last name of one of the 343 fallen first responders on the back of his jersey.

That was especially meaningful to Firefighters head coach Val Perez, who spent a decade as a firefighter and paramedic in Texas with the Corpus Christi Fire Department.

“I talked to the guys earlier about how important it is for them to understand the meaning of it,” Perez said on the Firefighters’ broadcast. “Making sure we truly never forget.”

Perez went on to play for USA Baseball’s Women’s National Team and later played in the Women’s Professional Baseball League with the New York Heights before turning to coaching in Banana Ball.

In tribute, Perez wore the name of firefighter Michael F. Cammarata of Ladder Company 11, the youngest FDNY firefighter to die in the line of duty.

Utility player Dakota McFadden also has a deep connection to Sept. 11, coming from a long line of first responders. His father, grandfather and uncle were all firefighters, his aunt is a retired EMT and his sister serves in the military.

“Twenty-five years ago today was the worst day that could ever possibly happen. But within that, we all got unified,” McFadden said on the Firefighters’ broadcast. “They felt like they had one more thing left to give, and it was something very selfless.”

McFadden wore the name of Gary P. Geidel, a Rescue Company 1 firefighter who served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps and was just weeks from retirement on Sept. 11.

Banana Ball prides itself on honoring first responders, typically during the eighth inning of games.

Friday was different, with tributes instrumental parts of the entire game.

One came from Christian Dearman, a Firefighters relief pitcher representing Andre G. Fletcher of Rescue Company 5. Dearman climbed 110 flights of stairs at NBT Bank Stadium, matching the 110 floors in each of the Twin Towers that Fletcher and other first responders climbed on Sept. 11. The team held its own stair climb in Savannah, Georgia, to prepare for Friday’s game.

Firefighters outfielder Lamar Sparks hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to spark a late rally. As he rounded the bases, he carried an American flag in front of a sold-out crowd.

The moment brought the Syracuse crowd to its feet.

“There are so many heavy emotions being in New York state,” said Firefighters play-by-play announcer and Syracuse University alumnus Zach Staton, explaining why the day carries such weight for the team. “It represents people who have sacrificed their lives to make sure ours could continue.”

The Firefighters continue their tour Saturday, leaving Syracuse with memories of flips and karaoke. But their commitment to honoring the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 will stay with New York.